Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-11-04


served another. 'If any of the men
want to go out and look for him." I'll be
one of them" But it was generally con-
ceded that the time for help was past.
One evening, at sundown, the doctor
was summoned in hot haste to the Mere
dith household. At midnight David
Rowell, retreatiug with cautious foot
steps from the door, whittier he had
gone to hold whispered colloquy, was
startled by seeing one of the row of
twisted cacti in the yard apparently
moving toward him Drawing nearer,
he recognized the stunted form of a Ger
man.
"Will she be bedder2"
"No change, Dresden" 1t would have
been rank injustice to hold the clear
night air accountable for the huskiness
in his throat. "Only one thing can save
her. God pity him if he's dead, and
curse him if he's alive" he added
Simultaneously with the intelligence
of Mrs. Meredith's serious illness, it was
bruited about that old Dresden had dis
posed of his chicken ranch, and, buying
scraggy burro, set off with pack Of
notions to visit some of the Mexican vii
lagos lying contiguous to the border.
His departure aroused little comment,
although some of the more enterprising
of the masculine groups limited at dark
and mysterious reasons which ruled his
movements.
A few days later curious meeting
occurred in the pass of the Sierra Madre.
A stubby little man, hobbling along be-
side diminutive burro, with towering
pack, at a point where the narrow road
wound about the side of precipitous
gorge, heard the we'll known whistle in
the distance, the usual signal warning
travellers of approach from an opposite
direction. From note of warning the
whistle glided gayly into the strains of
a popular operate air. The small man
with the burro gave sharp shout and
pushed on to find John Meredith await
ing his approach at place where a cres-
cent had been followed into the rocky
wall.
''Vell, Mr. Meredith
The little man sat down on rcck and
eyed the careless young horseman with
the eye of Nemesis.
"Helloa, Dresden. What are you up
to now2 Going to turn the heads of
those Mexican women with look Of
finery, eh?"
Dresden stifed a savage imprecation.
By great effort he composed himself.
81 vas thinking you been hahng a
ferry fine time in the moundains, Mr.
Mercditi"
"Oh, $3.50. A bit too much rain and
snow. But have some fine specimens
here. People will open their eyes when
they see them. Copper and native silver
till you can't rest-but of course you
don't know anything about su h
things, he broke off with compassionate
laugh.
"You vas not afraid the little frau
would drubble herself? and, indeed,
dat is ferry goot, as woman should not
make herself drubble ven der is noting
wort"
The mans voice was dry and meas
ured, but the swelling veins on his fore
head betrayed severe inward strain.
The young man observed nothing of
this.
"Not a bit, Dresden. To tell the
truth, he said, in burst of confidence
and with mild air of triumph at the
recollection of his brilliant artitice. II
fatter myself l managed that pretty
we'll. l told her to look for me in three
weeks. know woman. They are all
right so long as they have something to
take up their minds. l know looking
for me would sort of break up the time
and give her something to think Of"
'And what tink you dat occupation
will be already, Mr.. MEREDITH And in
deet it is ferry nice for woman to be
thinking how de Apachese haf maybe got
her mans scalp, or he is ferry likely fall
in under some big rock, or blowed in
pieces by plast" The speaker had risen
to his feet, and his bowed form straight
ened as he confronted Meredith in his
wrath. 'Mr. Mercdit, when your wife
lifs and your child is of right mint, you
need not tank yourself"
The man he addressed stared straight
before him, as if he saw a phantom. His
easy confidence had deserted him and he
trembled from head to foot. The possi-
bic results of his adroit strategy marched
in spectral procession before him.
"Good Lord, Dresden!" he faltered.
eff anything has happened to her, l had
better 60 over this precipice now."
II know not dat de loss wood be ferry
great" answered the other coolly. He
could not forgive the fellow in a moment.
Only dat she is fool--all vimmen are
FOOLS" he remarked, sententiously, land
if she lifs -"
Striking his spurs deep into the fanks
of his horse, Meredith dashed around the
bend in the road, and in a few seconds
the clatter of hoofs had died away in the
distance. Old Dresden, with queer
smile on his plain face, touched up his
lazy animal and continued his journey
southwark.
At daybreak the next morning David
Rowell, proving al out like a wrath in
the dim light, heard a horse coming up
the southern road. Meredith checked
his gait as he saw the tall figure ap-
preaching.
Don't say it Rowell, he protested.
"There is just one thing left to do" He
drew revolver from its case in his belt,
and deliberately cooked it. David Rowell
knocked it from his hand, and it ex-
ploded harmlessly in clump of sage
brush couple of rods away. As he
viewed the pale face and staring eyes,
and the gaunt figure, stiff aud erect in
the saddle, the words of reproach, if he
had any ready, died upon his lips.
Courage, John" he said. "She's
alive. l wouldn't have answered for an
other day"
(CnrocJon - eoi5 IObn Ma,oJ;1b 800